St. George Expedition

Meet team Wonder Women - Kristine, me, Pam, Rylee, Baby Ezra, and Jenny.  Saturday, December 3, we ran a 50 mile relay style race all around the beautiful town of St. George.  What fun we had!

8 am start time, all smiles.

It wouldn't be a race without a man in a speedo and horns.

I wonder what's going on under that blanket?  Ezra was our mascot and he did a fine job.  He hardly fussed all day.  Such a good baby.

Kristine was runner #1 and 6.  She was also the team leader and put everything together.  It takes a good leader to pull off one of these events and she was an excellent one.

Rylee does yoga in her off time and knows her stretching.  She was runner #2 and #7 and barely broke a sweat the whole day.

This 76 year old grandma was on a team called, "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer," and I hate to say it, but they beat us.  They were nice people and cheered us along.

Pam is a sucker for dogs, especially cute ones.  This one seemed to like her just as much.

Jenny was runner #3 and 8 and had the hardest legs because well, she can handle them.  She's one tough cookie.  We thought it was fitting that this canyon was named after her. 

  

Pam was runner #4 and 9 which meant she was always greeted by Jenny and her beautiful smile at the hand off.  Pam had the most miles but it was by her choosing.  She liked them because there was lots of down hill.  She's a wise person.

Rylee running her second leg and happy to almost be done.

Ezra was so happy to be out of that car seat and have a little something to eat.

This was the last hand off of the day, I was runner #5 and 10 which meant I was bringing up the rear.  By this point, 6 teams didn't bother to show up and 1 team got lost and dropped out.  In other words, I was the final runner of the day.  As I ran by, they were picking up cones.  I was running as fast as my 10 minute pace would let me.  It was a beautiful run that took me through the red hills of St. George, along the Bloomington trail and golf course and finished at the Dixie Center where my team and a few race workers were waiting.  I ran about 10 miles on the day and was so happy to finish my final 5.8.

I even did a little jump to show my excitement.

We celebrated at Brick Oven with a huge meal and discussed where our next run should be.  Pam said running is like child birth, you just gotta get it over with.  So we ask ourselves, why do we do it?  Because it's worth it!  We are thinking Fontana, California, half marathon in June if anyone wants to join us.  With everyone that moves away from Vegas, this could be a great way to stay in touch and shape!  Loved hanging with my Wonder Women sisters!

Week in Review

I am over fundraising for the kid's school so every month there is a fundraiser in the community that we support.  Crystal Palace roller skating was the place this past week.  Leighton came prepared with knee pads and had a helmet in the car but decided against it the last minute.  Last year the boys couldn't even stand up so Leighton was ready for anything.  He actually stayed vertical the majority of the time.

Boston was "cool like that" with George.  Boston wanted to pay with his own money and I let him but then he kept leaving his wallet laying around (with $15 in it).  My friend Nikki was looking out for him and kept returning it.  At one point, Boston came to me a little distraught because he "spent all his money."  I asked him on what and he said, "trying to win one of those stuffed animals for Ruby."  Ruby is in his kindergarten class and George's little sis.  Nikki was so soft she ended up giving Boston and George two more dollars to try and win something for Ruby.  Unfortunately, they came up empty handed although, Boston only spent $4 of his own money on the piece of junk stuffed animal toy so he still had a few dollars in his wallet.

Jackson had his jacket on most of the night because as he puts it, "it looks good."  By the time the race came around he ditched it so he could be aero dynamic for the 9 and under race.  He was set, the guy blew the whistle and everyone took off, except Jackson.  He was in slow mo but staying vertical...for a few steps.  Eventually the guy with the whistle and fancy skating skills helped him off the floor.  He improved 100% from last year and said he had a great time.

The boys played in the "Snoop League" for football and although they didn't make it to the championship, we went to support the other Green Valley Knight teams that did.  Eric took the boys to the press box to get a picture with Snoop himself but had to settled for his body guard, Hollis Thomas #99 from the Philadelphia Eagles.  I had no clue who he was but Eric claimed they played together in the pros once upon a time.  Eric was asked to help coach the High School Senior East/West game and Hollis is helping as well.  Eric is having a great time coaching the kids and hanging out with da boys from his glory days.

Kennedy performed, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" for her Christmas recital and did an excellent job.  She's really enjoying to play now.  So worth it. 

Boston started lessons this fall and is very focused and disciplined.  He practices without being asked and enjoys playing as well.  He played, "Up on the Housetop" for his piece.

Oh and I ran on a relay team too!  That post will be for another day after I get done with my Christmas cards, preparing for my lesson Sunday, cleaning my filthy house, doing my visiting teaching, Christmas shopping with Eric, and rehabbing a house we're going to be moving into.  That's all folks!

Near Sighted

Kennedy has been complaining since school started this year that she couldn't see the board.  We have tested her eyes a few times at the nurses office at school and the pediatrician and they seemed fine so I thought maybe it was just an attention getter.  I was wrong.  We went to a real eye doctor last week and the tests revealed she's near sighted, like her Grandpa Vard.  Near sighted means you can't see far away like the board in the classroom.  Eric has eagle vision and I don't wear glasses so this is a new world to us.  She picked out some cute Betsy Johnson frames and they were ready yesterday.  She is thrilled with what she can see through them!  She put them on and the first thing she said was, "Wow!  I can see clear."  I tried them on and she said they made me look older.  The headache I immediately felt revealed that I won't be needing glasses any time soon and they came off just as fast as they went on.  "That makes you look older" is something I never want to hear.  Kennedy looks adorable and not a year over 12 years and 11 months.

Star of the Week

This is a really big deal to Boston!  He's very competitive and was beaming when he brought the "All About" poster home.  He chose every picture, color, theme and wrote each word, himself.  It's refreshing that he's so independent.  Three kids ago, I would've pushed my ideas  but not any more.  I must be tired or learned that it's best to let them do as much as possible.

He got to sit in the special chair which is obviously made for normal sized kindergartners.  He ate it all up! Good job Boston!

Wild, Wild West Thanksgiving

 We spent Thanksgiving with Eric's parents and Bryron and Amy and their 6 girls in Taylor, Arizona (near Snowflake).  They raise and milk their own goats, chickens (eggs), breed Pugle dogs (beagle and pug mix), breed Rubber Boa snakes, have a pet horse, guinea pigs and a roaming cat.  The kids were busy all day exploring the land and animals.  Jackson was brave and milked the goat.  He said it was a "weird, gushy feeling."  The picture below is from the drive down.  Eric wasn't feeling well (obviously) so I drove.  He would eventually go the doctor on Saturday and ended up with a shot in his backside.  Two women doctors had to examine him which he said was humiliating.  I call it justice.

We ventured to Mesa, AZ, on Friday and stopped in the mountains to enjoy the crisp, cool air. 

The boys couldn't wait to get to Paul and Julie's house to see Daniel and Paul.  They are happy as can be just sitting beside them watching an old Disney flick.

Kennedy and Maria look so much alike.  This is the first time I really noticed the resemblance.

Boston and Hailey were a great team playing Scattergories and darts.

Leighton was my partner in Scattegories and quite impressive.

Boston couldn't keep his hands off Baby James (my niece Rebecca's baby).  He would love to have a baby brother.

My only request was to NOT go to Goldfield this trip but as you can see from the pictures, my voice went unheard.  It's not that I dislike the place.  It's just that we have been there at least 6 times and I wanted to explore something new. Oh well, the kids had fun and like I've said before, that's what it's all about.

We ended the evening and our trip in Arizona at Fudrucker's - a great place for a family gathering.  We enjoyed a memorable Thanksgiving and are grateful to all who fed and hung out with us!